Parties attack 'propaganda' cost

Thousands of pounds have been spent on reports such as these

Scottish ministers have been accused of spending too much on glossy brochures publicising policy.

The Scottish National Party and the Conservatives have criticised new figures which show that ministers spent more than £500,000 on publications in less than six months.

The SNP has called for a review of what it said was the "Lib-Lab propaganda machine" while the Tories remarked that the cash would be better spent on improving public services.

The opposition parties predicted that spending on publications was likely to overtake the previous annual outlay of £1m.

However, the executive defended the spending and said the publications were part of the important function of keeping people informed.

In a written parliamentary answer to SNP MSP Shona Robison, Finance Minister Andy Kerr said a total of 79 publications were issued by the executive in the past six months at a cost of £519,634.

'Barrage of propaganda'

Ms Robison, MSP for Dundee East, has called for a review of spending on publications.

She said: "We have already seen the budgets for spin doctors and government advertising spiral out of control.

"Now the Lib-Lab propaganda machine is set to break the £1m mark for publications alone.

"Some of these may be worthy, but do we really need to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on glossy brochures?"

Shona Robison accused the executive of propaganda

Tory leader David McLetchie said: "The hard-working taxpayers of Scotland have every right to be cynical about the value of these brochures and indeed about the performance of the Scottish government in general.

"Despite all the promises that the government would do better in the next four years, it is clear that nothing has changed.

"This barrage of propaganda will not make Scots forget they are paying higher taxes for poorer public services."

An executive spokesman said: "Value for money is a major consideration and a key priority when we consider whether or not to publish.

"We are always aware of the need to be prudent with the public purse.

"Some publications are very specialist, but they are generally small print runs and go out to a specialist audience."

The spokesman added that increasing use was being made of the internet and e-mail and spending could be decreased.